Method of sinking shafts through quicksand



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) I

W. SOOYSMITH.

METHOD OF SINKING SHAFTS THROUGH QUIGKSAND. I

No. 340,384. I Patented Apr. Z0, 1886.

Wa ziiws 6/.5 17221621252" mm J 6.6 m WU (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. SOOYSMITH.

METHOD OF SINKING SHAFTS THROUGH QIIIOKSAND. No. 340,884. Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

n. PETERS, Pholo-Lithagnphun Washingcn. n. r;

.NITE STATES PATENT Trice,

WILLIAM sooY SMITH,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,384, dated April 20, 1886.

Application filed March 10, 1886.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM 8001* SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Method of Sinking Shafts through Quicksand, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to.

the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a novel method of sinking shafts and boring tunnels through quicksand and other water-carrying strata, and is an improvement upon the invention of F. H. Poetsch, patented June 2i, 188-1; and it consists of a method of protectingthe ground to be excavated against intense cold, and also thawing said ground, if frozen, to facilitate excavating therethrougln In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is avertical section through earth and watercarrying strata with the freezing apparatus in position. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, and said apparatus is similar to the invention shown in the patent to Poetsch. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through strata to be excavated, showing two of the incased pipes. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of one of the pipes used to carry either the freezing or the thawing medium. Fig. 5 is a modification of the same.

In the drawings, A represents a compact bed of earth or other stratum nearly impervious to water, and A a stratum of quicksand. A series of pipes, a, placed at proper distance from each other, are driven through the soil and water bearing strata until they reach either the bed-rock B or stiff clay, where it may be intended to stop the excavation. The pipes at inclose pipes b, that are connected at the top with one or more receiving-pipes, 11, through which the freezing medium is conducted to the pipes b, and the latter direct it to a point adjacent to the bottom of the pipe a, from which it ascends again around the pipes b to the top of the pipes a, and is returned to the freezing-machine. The amount of ground frozen by this method generally extends so far within the limits to be excavated as to greatly increase the amount of labor necessary to produce the desired excavation.

The object of my invention is to reduce this labor to a minimum. For this purpose the Serial No. 194,707. (No model.)

upper portion of the pipe a, thatpasses through the stratum A, that may be compact earth, or it may be water only, is incased in a hollow pile, 0, preferably made of wood suitably bored, or made of a number of pieces of wood fastened together, and said pile is driven, with the pipe 0!, in one of the wayswell known in engineering. This pile G prevents the diffusion of cold to any great distance therefrom, as shown by heavy section-lines at D, and permits the freezing medium to reach the lower portion of the pipe a in an unimpaired condition, and by this means the amount of frozen material D around said lower portion of the pipe a is much larger than in the upper portion; but, as above stated, the amount of frozen material may extend too far in the interior of the proposed excavation, and to thaw this portion is also the object of my invention. For this purpose there is driven within the peripheral limits proposed for the excavation another series of pipes, at, and within each of them is placed a smaller pipe, I), passing through a stuffing-box, a, in the cap of the larger pipe. At the lower end of the pipe I) is secured a plug or piston, b", to close the interior of the pipe at at any desired point, and just above said piston the pipe I) has a series of perforations, b through which a medium ofwarmthas steam, hot air, or watercan issue into the large pipe, and the latter transmit its calorie and thawing properties to the ground surrounding it, after which it escapes through the pipe a attheupper end of thelarge pipe a. In Fig. 5 the pipe a is shown as closed at the bottom by a plug, a. The medium of warmth is conducted through the pipe 1) under the piston b", where it transmits its caloric to the pipe at and escapes through the pipe a. A rod, a is attached to the piston, by which means its position within the pipe at can be regulated from above. method could be applied to excavations for tunnels in any direction and for any purpose, and the same pipes used to bring in the freezing medium may afterward be used to conduct the thawing medium to the desired point, as the position of the piston I) can be adjusted.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim- 1. The method herein set forth of facilitat- The same general ing the making of excavations through waterbearing strata, which consists in inserting pipes into the earth, sending a freezing me dium through said pipes until asufficient area around said pipes has been frozen, and afterward conducting a thawing medium through a certain portion of said pipes, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The method herein set forth of facilitating the production of excavations, which consists in inserting an outer row of freezing-pipes into the earth and an inner row of thawingpipes, sending first a current of freezingfiuid in the outer row, to consolidate water-bearing strata, and afterward sending a warm current through the inner row, thawing the earth contained within the outer row, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The method herein set forth of faci1itating the making of excavations through firm and loose strata, which consists in protecting the ground to be excavated through the firm stratum against the effects thereon of freezingpipes by inclosing a portion of said pipes in non-conducting shields or piles and driving them, with the freezing-pipes, through said stratum into the loose stratum to the depth desired,and passing a freezing niediu in through said pipes, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM SOOY SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

E. E. MAssoN, E. O. VVURDEMAN. 

